Reclosable carton

ABSTRACT

A rectangular carton is provided with top closure flaps arranged to close in normal sequence, to fold the longer flaps in superimposed relation over the coplanar short flaps. A locking tab receiving notch is cut in the outermost longer flap, the ends of this notch being connected to opposite edges of this flap by weakened lines of separation. The end portion of this flap is adhered to the other long flap. When opened, the outer flap is split, and a locking tab on the inner of these flaps may engage in the receiving notch to reclose the carton.

[451 Feb. 11, 1975 United States Patent 191 Hennessey 1 RECLOSABLE CARTON [75] Inventor: Russell J. Hennessey, St. Paul, Minn. Primary Examiner Edward ""Mccarthy [73] Assignee: lloerner Waldorf Corporation,

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert M. Dunning; Jerry F. Best Ramsey, Minn.

[57] ABSTRACT A rectangular carton is provided with top closure flaps [22] Filed: May 17, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 361,173

arranged to close in normal sequence, to fold the longer flaps in superimposed relation over the coplah is cut in nar short flaps. A locking tab receiving note the outermost longer flap, the ends of this notch being connected to opposite edges of this flap by weakened lines of separation. The end portion of this flap is adhered to the other long flap. When opened, the outer flap is split, and a locking tab on the inner of these flaps may engage in the receiving notch to reclose the carton.

C C C T5 T 51 1 bd H 9 9 2 H ZBT S W n T m "WC N mmT mm mmm MAM u 9 C m 2 S w New mm m n S mnh H um" R "3 E00 m w W% L f. W C l IM UhF m 1]] l 2 8 6 555 5 3,366,311 Simpson 229/51 TC 3 438 566 229/5l TC 3,549,082 12/1970 Simpson 229/51 TC 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures RECLOSABLE CARTON This invention relates to an improvement in reclosable carton and deals particularly to a carton having an end closure which may be glued shut and which may be readily opened and reclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A great number of cartons are produced which may be opened and reclosed. Most such cartons require the use of additional paperboard in view of the'reclosing feature. Many such cartons are merely locked in closed position when supplied by the manufacturer of the product contained and may be opened and relocked. Such an arrangement is often objectionable because of the fact that many such cartons may be opened by prospective customers, and the cartons returned to the shelves after an examination of the contents. Many packaged products are relatively low in price, and with such products a minimum of packaging cost must be maintained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a carton of the so called paste end type which is usually recognized as being the most economical type of carton normally produced. Cartons of this type normally include opposed pairs of side and end walls, the walls being secured in tubular relation by a glue flap. Tubular flat cartons of this type may be glued at speeds up to 50 or 60 thousand per hour so that the cost of this operation is relatively low. Cartons of this type may be filled and sealed on conventional equipment which is readily available, and which many companies already own.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a carton having closure flaps on the main wider panels designed to fold into superimposed relation and adhered together. The outermost of these panels is provided with a slit defining a tuck tab receiving notch which is located intermediate the sides of this outer flap. and which are connected to the sides by weakened lines of separation. The other of these flaps is provided with a short tongue which underlies the portion of the upper flap adjoining the base of the slit. The package is opened by applying downward pressure upon the uppermost flap adjoining the weakened lines of separation, splitting the uppermost flap apart along these weakened lines. The carton may then be opened for removal of a portion of the contents. In reclosing the carton, the remainder of the flap which is previously the outermost flap is first folded down, and the flap which was previously the lower flap is folded down and the projecting portion or tuck tab is engaged in the notch formed by the slit.

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the adhesive which is used to seal the flaps in closed position need not be broken or disengaged. When the uppermost flap is torn apart along the weakened lines of separation, the end portion of this outer flap remains adhered to the inner flap but does not interfere with the reclosing of the carton.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carton end showing the carton end in closed position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carton end before the closure flaps are closed and sealed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. I but showing areas in which pressure is applied to open the carton closure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carton after the main flaps thereof have been reopened.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the carton when reclosed.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the blank from which the carton is formed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the various figures of the drawings, only one end of the carton is illustrated. It should be understood that the,other end of the carton may have any type of closure, and the present invention is involved with the closure at one end of the carton walls.

As indicated in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the carton A includes a main panel 10, a side wall panel 11, a second main panel 12, and and a second side wall panel 13 connected along parallel fold lines l4, l5 and 16. A glue flap 17 is connected to an end panel of the series, such as the panel 10 along a fold line 19. The glue flap is normally glued to the surface of the other end panel of the series, such as the panel 13, to form a flat tubular structure which may be opened up into rectangular relationship.

Closure flaps 20 and 21 may be foldably connected to the upper edges of the side wall panels I] and 13 along a fold line 22. A closure flap 23 is hingedly connected to the main panel 10, and a closure flap 24 is hingedly connected to the main panel 12. The lines of connection are substantially along the transverse fold line 22.

A generally U-shaped slit or cut line 25 is located centrally between sides of the closure flap 24, and the ends of this slit 25 are connected by weakened lines of separation 26 to the side edges 27 of the closure flap 24. The ends 28 of the slit 25 are somewhat reversely curved. In the particular arrangement illustrated, the weakened lines 26 slant slightly toward the end edge 29 of the closure flap 24. This slant may be varied in different constructions, as it is necessary to apply a line of adhesive 30 outwardly of the slit and weakened lines of separation, and near the end edge of the closure flap 24 and a width of this adhesive line must be sufficient to hold the flaps closed and sealed.

The closure flap 23 is of a length substantially equal to the distance between the end edge 29 of the closure flap 24 and the base of the generally U-shaped slit 25. The closure flap 23 is provided with a centrally located projecting locking tab 31 which projects beyond the the area between the slit 25 and the weakened lines 26 and the end 29 of the closure flap 24 is the only area which is firmly adhered to the closure flap 23. When it is desired to open the carton, downward pressure is applied upon the closure flaps in the direction of the arrows 32 at opposite ends of the slit 25. In view of the fact that one edge of the closure flap 24 is foldably connected to the panel 12 and the other edge of the closure flap is adhered to the lower flap 23 adjoining the fold line 22, the downward pressure acts to split the flap 24 along the weakened lines 26. The end area of the flap 24 remains attached to the surface of the flap 23. Accordingly the closure flaps may be folded upwardly and the desired portion of the contents of the carton may be removed. FIG. 4 of the drawings shows the carton in partially opened position.

When it is desired to reclose the carton, the remainder of the closure flap 24 which is hingedly connected to the panel 12 is folded downwardly to overlie the flaps 20 and 21, and the closure flap 23 is next folded down, the locking tab 31 overlying a portion of the flap 24 between the base of the slit 25 and the fold line 22. Further downward pressure upon the locking tongue causes the locking flaps to bow downwardly until the end of the locking tab 31 engages in the notch previously defined by the slit 25. The locking tab 31 underlies the portion of the closure flap 24 between the slit 25 and the fold line 22 to lock the carton in reclosed position. When in this position, the carton top appears as indicated in FIG. of the drawings. a

In accordance with the Patent Statutes, l have described the principles of construction and operation of my reclosable carton; and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A carton closure for a rectangular carton having opposed parallel front and rear panels and opposed side panels, foldably connected in tubular relation,

a first closure flap hinged to the upper edge of one of said front and rear panels and folded into right angular relation thereto,

a second closure flap hinged to the other of said front and rear panels and folded to overlie said first closure flap,

said second closure flap including a locking tab receiving slit intermediate its side edges, and weakened lines of separation extending from the ends of said slot to the side edges of said second closure flap,

means securing the area of said second closure flap between said locking slot and said weakened lines of separation to the underlying area of said first closure flap,

said first closure flap being of a length substantially equal to the distance between said slit and the end extremity of said second closure flap,

said first closure flap including a locking tab in registry with said slit and extending beneath a portion of said second closure flap between said slit and the line of fold connecting said second closure flap to said one of said one of said front and rear panels. whereby when said second closure flap is split along said weakened lines of separation and said carton opened, said carton may be reclosed by first folding down said second closure flap, and then folding down said first closure flap and inserting said locking tab beneath a portion of said second closure flap.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said slit is generally U-shaped with the ends thereof extending in a direction toward the end edge of said second closure flap.

3. The structure of claim 1 and in which the end portion of said second closure flap remains adhered to said first closure flap when said carton is opened.

4. The structure of claim 1 and in which the ends of said slit are reversely curved to provide a generally U- shaped slit.

5. The structure of claim 1 and in which portions of said first closure flap on opposite sides of said locking tab overlie portions of said second closure flap on opposite sides'of said slit when said carton is reclosed.

Dated February 1'].

Patent No.

Inventor(s) Russell J. Hennessey It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below Cancel drawings on cover sheet and insert the figor'e shown below.

Signed and Scalcd this thirtieth Day of newt-bet 1975 [SEAL] A ttest:

RUTH C. MASON C. IAISIIALL DANN Commission" of hull: Ind Trademarks Arresting Officer 

1. A carton closure for a rectangular carton having opposed parallel front and rear panels and opposed side panels, foldably connected in tubular relation, a first closure flap hinged to the upper edge of one of said front and rear panels and folded into right angular relation thereto, a second closure flap hinged to the other of said front and rear panels and folded to overlie said first closure flap, said second closure flap including a locking tab receiving slit intermediate its side edges, and weakened lines of separation extending from the ends of said slot to the side edges of said second closure flap, means securing the area of said second closure flap between said locking slot and said weakened lines of separation to the underlying area of said first closure flap, said first closure flap being of a length substantially equal to the distance between said slit and the end extremity of said second closure flap, said first closure flap including a locking tab in registry with said slit and extending beneath a portion of said second closure flap between said slit and the line of fold connecting said second closure flap to said one of said one of said front and rear panels, whereby when said second closure flap is split along said weakened lines of separation and said carton opened, said carton may be reclosed by first folding down said second closure flap, and then folding down said first closure flap and inserting said locking tab beneath a portion of said second closure flap.
 2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said slit is generally U-shaped with the ends thereof extending in a direction toward the end edge of said second closure flap.
 3. The structure of claim 1 and in which the end portion of said second closure flap remains adhered to said first closure flap when said carton is opened.
 4. The structure of claim 1 and in which the ends of said slit are reversely curved to provide a generally U-shaped slit.
 5. The structure of claim 1 and in which portions of said first closure flap on opposite sides of said locking tab overlie portions of said second closure flap on opposite sides of said slit when said carton is reclosed. 